ENG-2002 — Page 413

PUBLIC ORDER

In April, the Drug Dependent Persons Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres (Licensing) Ordinance came into operation. The ordinance introduced a licensing scheme with the aim of enhancing the standards of services provided by drug treatment and rehabilitation centres.

Following a review by the Social Welfare Department, the drug awareness programmes provided to young people and secondary school students under the Against Substance Abuse Scheme were transferred to the three Counselling Centres for Psychotropic Substance Abusers in August.

During the year, significant progress was made in implementing the recommendations of the second Three-year Plan on Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services. In August, the Narcotics Division commissioned a research study to develop a protocol for screening and assessment of poly-drug abusers. Furthermore, two additional Counselling Centres for Psychotropic Substance Abusers commenced operation in October. A drug treatment and rehabilitation centre in Tuen Mun, catering for young male drug abusers, is under construction and will commence operation in mid-2003.

Following the promulgation of a Report on Review of the Methadone Treatment Programme, various measures to improve the services of methadone clinics have been implemented. In March, the Sham Shui Po Methadone Clinic was expanded to include enhanced facilities such as a health education room and an interview room for social workers. Pursuant to the review, the Beat Drugs Fund approved a grant for conducting a clinical trial to examine the efficacy of naltrezone (an opiate which blocks the subjective and physiological effects of morphine and heroin) in relapse prevention for detoxified opiate addicts. In October, individual counselling services and group therapy sessions for methadone patients were increased with the augmented manpower of seven social workers.

In November, the Narcotics Division and the Social Welfare Department organised a six-day international training programme for anti-drug workers in Hong Kong. The training programme was conducted by training consultants of Daytop International, USA, with the objectives of enhancing the knowledge, skills and competence of anti-drug workers and fostering communication and cooperation among government departments, drug treatment agencies, and related organisations involved in anti-drug work.

Preventive Education and Publicity

The Narcotics Division adopted a multi-faceted approach in publicising the anti-drug message during the year.

Given the importance of strengthening drug education for students, the Narcotics Division continued to provide drug education programmes to students from Primary 5 up to Senior Secondary levels as well as students in the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (HKIVE). In September, three non-governmental organisations were commissioned by the Narcotics Division to deliver these programmes in the 2002-03 and 2003-04 school years. During the year, a total of 1 821 drug education programmes for 145 700 students in 395 primary schools and 214 secondary schools were delivered. A total of 87 programmes were also conducted for 4 297 students of the HKIVE. Collaboration with School Liaison Officers of the Police Force has been strengthened so that more joint talks could be given in secondary schools.

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